An Interview with Terry Langetieg ’24: On Gates and Receiving a US Patent

Each year during the Charles C. Gates Invention & Innovation Competition, students not only compete for cash prizes, but they may also receive a Patent Nod, an award that “allows the patentability of the student’s invention to be assessed by a law firm specializing in intellectual property law.”

In 2022, Terry Langetieg ’24 and Edgar Choi ’24, who at the time were in seventh grade, received a Patent Nod for their invention, KeyPoint, “an integrated keychain assembly for in-vehicle stowage of vehicular keys and key fobs while operating vehicles.” Three years later, on February 4, 2025, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted Terry and Edgar a patent for KeyPoint. Director of Gates Jenny Sabados recently caught up with Terry to congratulate him and ask him about his experiences in Gates.

Jenny Sabados: Terry, congratulations on your patent! That’s an incredible achievement, especially for something you started working on in seventh grade. Can you tell me a little about the journey through the Gates program that led you here?

Terry Langetieg: Thank you! It’s been such a great experience. I just think that the Gates program is such a unique approach to learning—one that really encourages failure and success, not just success alone. I think more schools should adopt that model because it truly taught me how to problem-solve, adapt, and grow.
In my first year in the program, I was just building for fun and learning foundational skills, like 3D printing and design software. But in my second year, my partner Edgar Choi and I were the last team to come up with an idea. We were brainstorming, searching for something innovative, and suddenly we realized sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones.

JS: What was the spark for your invention?

TL: It actually came from personal experience. My family had a new lease car at the time, and I noticed that the key fob was always just tossed into the center console. It didn’t really have a designated place. That got me thinking—why isn’t there something designed specifically to hold and secure modern car key fobs?

JS: That’s such a relatable problem! How did you go about developing a solution?

TL: Our first prototype was just an L-shaped holder, but it didn’t work at all—the weight of the key fob pulled it right off.

Our second prototype was a magnetized design, kind of like a toaster oven concept, but we got some really harsh feedback on that one. People thought it looked clunky and out of place on the dashboard. That was tough to hear, but it was a huge lesson in understanding customer needs and preferences.

JS: So, after those setbacks, how did you land on the final design?

TL: That’s where things really clicked for us. We redesigned it as a puzzle-piece-style holder that seamlessly snapped into place. It was secure, sleek, and solved all the issues from our earlier versions. At that point, we also had to consider how it would fit into the larger market—whether it would be something customers would purchase separately or something that car manufacturers could integrate directly into their designs.

JS: Beyond the technical side, what other skills did you gain from the Gates program?

TL: Public speaking and presentation skills were huge. Once we had our final prototype, we had to sell it—not just the idea itself, but also why it actually mattered to people. That’s a skill I use all the time now at Groton School.

One of the biggest things I learned is that selling an idea isn’t always about how big or world-changing it is. Sometimes, it’s just about making something simple and useful—something people can instantly see themselves using. Everyone has a car, and everyone has keys. That made our idea click with people right away.

JS: Now that you’ve been granted a patent, what’s next?

TL: If we move forward with it, we’d definitely want to explore partnering with car companies to incorporate our design directly into their models. I think that would be the ideal next step.

JS: What are some key takeaways you would share with current Gates students about what the program did for you?

TL: Gates taught me that failure is a crucial part of success—you have to ask questions, take feedback, and keep going. I’m incredibly grateful for that experience, and I truly believe more schools should embrace this style of learning. 

And, some of the most valuable lessons didn’t happen just during class time; they happened after hours, in one-on-one sessions with instructors. So my advice? Take full advantage of all the time and resources Gates offers.